Tool handle fastening



July 28', 1936. R. J. WALKER TOOL HANDLE FASTENING Filed March 25, 1935 ATTORNEY Patented July 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a tool handle fastener and has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character which will efiiciently secure a handle in an eye of a tool head against working loose during the use of the tool and which may be readily actuated to release the handle should the latter be damaged or if it is desired to make a change in handles to the tool head or sharpen the latter without the latter applied thereto.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section, illustrating a tool equipped with a fastener and constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation illustrating the fastener applied to the tool.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure l.

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating the fastener.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 4 indicates a tool head of any desired character having an eye 2 to receive a handle 3. The head engaging end of the handle is slightly enlarged and tapered so that the handle may be inserted through the eye from one end to bring the tool head engaging end of the handle in wedging engagement with the walls of the eye. Opposite walls of the eye are provided with dovetail-shaped grooves 4 communieating with correspondingly shaped notches 5 located at one end of the eye 2.

The tool head engaging end of the handle is provided with a notch 6 and the eye opens outwardly through one of the side faces of the tool head, as clearly shown in Figure 4, that defines a key receiving space in which the grooves 4 are located.

A key I is received in the key space of the tool head and has formed on opposite side edges thereof dovetail-shaped tenons 8 received by the grooves 4. A projection 9 is formed on the key and is located in the notch 6 of the handle to lock the key to the handle. One end of the key 1 has a dovetail groove to slidably receive locking elements 10, the latter being shaped in cross section to fit the groove in the end of the key and permit said locking elements to slide freely in the groove. A coil spring H is interposed between the locking elements ID. The

ends of the locking elements are shaped in accordance with the grooves 4 and when moved in alignment with the tenons 8 will slide freely in the grooves 4 to permit the positioning of the key and handle in the eye of the tool head. The locking elements when opposite the notches 5 will be urged into the latter by the spring ll, thereby securely locking the key in the head of the tool and as the handle is locked to the key by the extension 9 fitting in the notch 6 of the handle the latter will be prevented from loosening in the tool head.

The locking elements In may be moved in the direction of each other against the action of the spring ll so that the tenon-shaped ends of the locking elements may enter the grooves 4 and by striking the non-tool carrying end of the handle with force, the handle and key may be released in the eye of the tool head, thus permitting the handle to be readily removed from 20 the tool head.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a tool head having an eye and dovetail-shaped grooves formed in opposite walls of the eye and a handle received by said eye and provided with a notch, a key received by the eye, dovetail tenons formed on the key and received by the dovetail-shaped grooves, a projection on the key and received by the notch, spring-pressed locking elements slidably secured to the key and having dovetail-shaped ends adapted to be positioned to align with the tenons for movement through the dovetail-shaped grooves of the eye, said head having notches to receive the ends of the locking elements to releasably secure the key to the tool head.

2. In combination with a tool comprising a tool, a head having a handle receiving eye opening outwardly through one face of the head, a key slidably mounted to the head for closing the eye and secured to a handle and adaptable to the head during the positioning of the handle in the eye, said head having opposed notches, and opposed spring pressed elements slidably secured to the key to engage the notches for releasably securing said key to the head.

3. In a tool, a head having a handle receiving eye opening outwardly through one face of said head and provided with dovetail grooves, a key having edges shaped to fit the grooves and adapted to close the eye and be secured to a handle for bringing about application of the key to the head during the insertion of the handle in the eye, and spring pressed elements slidably secured to the key and having ends thereof shaped to fit the grooves and slidable therein, said head having notches to receive said ends of said elements to releasably secure the key to the head.

ROBERT J. WALKER. 

